Comminutor



Dec. 22, 1942. I a L, THOM 2,305,935

COMMINUTOR Filed March 10, 1959 x43 ATTORNEY.

Patented. Dec. 22, 1942 COMLIINUTOR George L. Thom, Chicago, Ill., assignor to Chicago Pump Company, Chicago, 111., a corporation of Illinois Application March 10, 1939, Serial l lo-261,028 1 Claims. (01. 210-1517 This invention relates to comminutors and more particularly to that type of comminutor which is intended for use in a flowing stream containing solids and semi-solids, and operating 'to intercept and comminutethe solids and semisolids which are too large to pass through the comminutor along with the flowing stream.

Among the objects of this invention is the provision of a novel transversely slotted straining member, either stationary or rotary for straining out orintercepting solids and semi-solids which are too large to pass throughthe slots, and having cutting teeth which cooperate with one or more notched cutting bars to cut, shear or tear intercepted solids into pieces small enough to pass through the slots. I

Another object is to provide transversely slotted straining means of arcate form, desirably composed of approximately semi-circular bars, thereby greatly reducing the width of the slots or passages in a through flow comminutor, and thereby minimizing thepcssibility for pieces of material to become wedged between the strainer bars.

Another object is to provide a comminutor in which the movable element either rotates or oscillates to produce the cutting action.

Another object is to simplify and redu'ce the cost of construction of comminutors of this character.

Other objects and advantages will appear in the course of this specification and, with said objects and advantages in view, this invention consists in the several novel features hereinafte fully set forth 'and claimed.

The invention is clearly illustrated in the accompanying drawing in which:

Fig. 1 is a plan partly in horizontal section of a comminutor embodying a simple form of the present invention positioned in a channel.

Fig. 2 is a view of the comminutor and channel partly in end elevation and partly in cross-sec- I tion.

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of fragments of the straining and cutting means of the comminutor. Fig. 4 is a view partly in plan and partly in horizontal section of a modified form of the inis confined between its side walls I.

channel, desirably'formed of concrete, through .which flows a stream of liquid containing solids and semi-solids. The channel may be used for conducting sewage from the outlet of a sewer pipe to a treatment plant, and the comminutor in this case operates to intercept and comminute the solids and semi-solids that are too large and might interfere with the treatment of the sewage.

The comminutor is interposed in the channel and, as here shown, restsupon its bottom 1 and From the base plate 8 of the comminutor rises two pilasters or'uprights 9, 9, which support a platform I 0, upon which is mounted an electric motor H, as by a, base 12. Coupled with the motor shaft is the drive shaft l3 of the rotating element of the comminutor, which shaft is journaled in suitable bearings at its upper and lower ends.

Mounted on the shaft, as by an arm I4, is a notched cutting bar iii. If desired, several cutting bars I5, as shown by the dotted lines, may be used.

Mounted on the uprights 9, 9, and extending from one side thereof, is a series of spaced, arcuate bars I6, desirably semi-circular, that serve as a straining element for intercepting solids and semi-solids that are too large to pass through the slots between the bars. In this form of the invention the concave sides of the strainer bars provide the side of the strainer element which intercepts the solids and semi-solids. 0n said concave side of the strainerbars, are rigidly secured cutting teeth H which are disposed in the path of travel of the notches in the notched cuting bar, whereby small pieces are cut, sheared or torn from the solids and semi-solids that are caught between the cutting bar and cutting teeth. The notched cutting bar sweeps the material along the straining bars from one end thereof to the other end, and any material carried past the arcuate bars by the notched bar is washed from the latter and carried back to the arcuate bars by the flowing-stream. The small pieces, which are cut from the'intercepted material, pass through the slots along with the liquids.

To prevent solids and semi-solids from collecting on the uprights 9, the inner faces of the channel side walls, adjacent the uprights on the upstream side thereof, are built out either with the concrete or by other structures to provide oblique faces ,i8 that direct the stream to the comminutor.

In the modified form illustrated in Figs. 4 and 6, the notched cutting bar I 5 oscillates and is mounted on a rock shaft 13 as by an arm It.

A crank arm i9 is provided which may be formed as a part of the arm N and is connected to a pitman or connecting rod 20 which is reciprocated by any suitable actuating mechanism.' In this form the teeth I1 are shaped to provide cutting edges at the two sides and one end thereof (see Fig. 6) whereby to obtain cutting action on its strokes in both directions. The other parts of the comminutor are constructed and arranged substantially similar to the corresponding parts seen in Figs. 1 and 2.

In the operation of the form of the invention shown in Figs. 4 and 6, the notched cutting-bar is oscillated and sweeps intercepted material back and forth along the toothed faces of the strainer bars, cutting small pieces from the material while traveling in both directions. The flowing liquids wash the material from the receding side of the cutting bar whereby the material is carried back to the strainer bars and consequently the material presents other places to the cutting teeth.

In the modified form illustrated in Fig. 5, two notched cutting bars I 5 constructed substantially like the cutter bar l5 of the form illustrated in Figs. 1, 2 and 3, are stationarily mounted on uprights 9, 9, of the comminutor and desirably are arranged at an oblique angle to the longitudinal axis of the channel, and determine the transverse cutting'axes of the comminutor. Abutments l8, having sloping sides, are provided on the inner faces of the channel side walls to direct the liquids along the cutting bars and wash away any materials that might lodge thereon. The cutting bars in this form of the invention define the inlet to the comminutor.

The spaced apart straining bars |6 are of arcuate form, desirably semi-circular, and are provided on their convex faces with cutting teeth ll substantially similar to the teeth H (see Fig. 6) which are arranged to pass through the notches in the notched bars and thereby cut, shear or tear out small pieces from the intercepted material. In this form of the invention the straining bars are arranged one above the other to provide a straining structure, as in the preferred form, which in this case is mounted on a shaft l3 as by webs H5 which extend between the straining bars and the hubs Hi When a semi-circular oscillating straining structure is used, a crank arm H5 is provided in connection with the shaft and is connectedrto a pitman or connecting rod 20 which is reciprocated by any suitable mechanism.

In the operation of the form of the invention shown in Fig. 5, the oscillating straining structure intercepts the solids and semi-solids permitting small pieces to pass through the slots between the webs along with the flow of the liquids therethrough. Solids and semi-solids are held against the toothed faces of the strainer bars by the pressure of the flowing stream, and as they are oscillated, the material is carried by the strainer bars to the notched cutting bars where small pieces are cut, sheared or torn from the mass and pass through the notches in the notched cutting bar. During each stroke, material is carried along by'the strainer bars and small pieces are cut therefrom as the material becomes caught between the cutting bars and the teeth.

This form of the invention particularly attains the advantage that the solids carried to a cutting bar are alternately cut by movement in one direction andrearranged by movement in the other direction and'presented to the cutting bar in different relative position, whereby the cutting action is improved.

I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent:

1. A comminutor adapted to be interposed in a channel having side and bottom walls for confining a flowing stream, said comminutor comprising two oppositely disposed stationary uprights located at the side walls of the channel and defining the width of the passage of the stream into the comminutor, a straining struc ture composed of a series of spaced arcuate bars providing slots therebetween, through which the stream flows directly from the up-stream side of the comminutor to the down-stream side thereof, said straining structure spanning the gap between said uprights and having cutting teeth on the upstream side edges of the arcuate bars, means to support the arcuate bars in spaced and parallel relation in postion to span the gap between the uprights, a notched cutting bar extending parallel with the length of the straining structure in close proximity to the toothed edges of the arcuate bars and with the notches arranged to register with the teeth of the arcuate bars, means to support said cutting bar parallel with the length of the straining structure, and means to produce relative motion between the arcuate bars and the notched cutting bar in a direction parallel to the arcuate bars.

2. A comminutor adapted to be interposed in a channel having side and bottom walls for confining a flowing stream, said comminutor comprising two oppositely disposed stationary uprights located at the side walls of the channel and defining the width of the passage of the stream into the comminutor, a straining structure composed of a series of spaced arcuate bars providing slots therebetween, through which the stream flows directly from the up-stream side of the comminutor to the down-stream side thereof,

said straining structure having cutting teeth on the up-stream side edges of the arcuate bars, said arcuate bars extending between said uprights and being secured thereto, a notched cutting bar extending parallel with the length of the straining structure in close proximity to the toothed edges of the arcuate bars, with the notches arranged to register with the teeth of the arcuate bars, and means to support and rotate said notched cutting bar in one direction parallel to the arcuate bars.

3. A comminutor adapted to be interposed in a channel having side and bottom walls for confining a flowing stream, said comminutor comprising two oppositely disposed stationary uprights located at the side walls of the channel and defining the width of the passage of the stream into the comminutor, a, straining structure composed of a series of spaced arcuate bars providing slots therebetween, through which the stream flows directly from the up-stream side of the comminutor to the down-stream side thereof, said straining structure spanning the gap between said uprights and secured thereto, and having cutting teeth on the up-stream sideedges of the arcuate 4. A comminutor adapted to be interposed in a channel having side and bottom walls for con'-. fining a flowing stream, said comminutor comprising a straining structure composed of a series of vertically spaced arcuate bars having cutting teeth on the upstream side of. their edges, said arcuate bars spanning that part of the channel which leads to the arcuate bars, means to support said bars in spaced relation spanning said part of the channel, a notched cutting bar extending parallel with 'the vertical axis of the straining structure in close proximity to the toothed edges of the arcuate bars with thenotches arranged to register with the teeth, means to support the notched cutting bar parallel with the axis of the strainingstructure, and means to produce relative reciprocating motion between the arcuate bars and the notched cutting bar.

5.- A comminutor adapted to be interposed in a channel having side and bottom walls for 'confining-a flowing stream, said comminutoncomprising a straining structure composed of vertically spaced arcuate bars having cutting teeth on the upstreamside of their edges, said. arcuate bars spanning that part of the channel'yhich leads to the arcuate bars, supporting members to stationarily support said arcuate bars in their spaced relation spanning said part of the channel, a notched cutting bar extending parallel with the axis of the straining structure with its notched edge in close proximity to the toothed edges of the arcuate bars, with the notches arranged to register with the teeth, a rock'shaft concentric with the axis of the straining structure, means to support the notched cutting bar on said rock shaft, and. shaft actuating means.

6. A comminutor adaptedto be interposed in a channel having side and bottom walls for confining a flowing stream, said comminutor comprising a straining structure composed of a series of vertically-spaced arcuate bars provided with cutting teeth on the upstream side of their convex edges, said arcuate bars spanning that part of the channel which leads to the arcuate bars, supporting webs for said arcuate bars, a rock shaft upon which said webs are mounted, said rock shaft being concentric with the axis of the straining structure, means to actuate said rock shaft, a notched cutting bar extending parallel with the axis of the straining structure mounted with its notched cutting edge in close proximity to the toothed edges of the arcuate bars with the notches arranged to register with said teeth,

and means to support the notched cutting bar' parallel with the axis of the straining structure.

7. A comminutor adapted to be interposed in a channel having side and bottom walls for confining a flowing, stream, said comminutor comprising a straining structure composed of a series a of vertically spaced arcuate bars provided with cutting teeth on the upstream side of their convex edges and formed with supporting webs, said arcuate bars spanning that part of the channel which leads to said arcuate bars, a rock shaft upon which said Webs are mounted, said rock shaft being concentric with the axis of the straining structure, means to actuate the rock shaft, notched cutting bars extending parallel with the axis of the straining structure and mounted with.

their notched edges in close proximity to the convex edges of the arcuate bars with the notches arranged to register with said cutting teeth, the notched cutting bars being spaced apart to provide an inlet to the comminutor, and means to support the notched cutting bars parallel with the axis of the straining structure.

GEORGE L. 'I'HOM. 

